Question - Parent Deducting Fees

[Sandbox Sally]

We had an eventful week. As you know, it's March Break here in Ontario. My three children left on Saturday to stay with my dad for the week, four hours north of us.

I'm going to try to make this short. LOL

DS had spots break out all over him, starting with a few on Sunday, and more on Monday. Tuesday, my dad took him to a walk in, and the doc told them MEASLES. I contacted all the daycare parents, and told them, which I thought was the responsible thing to do. I didn't know where it originated, whether it could have been with us or with one of them. (Turns out it wasn't measles).

Anyway, on Wed, dcb's mother decided that she wanted to take her son to his doc to be swabbed for the virus, so she didn't bring him. I took Thursday off, in case I had to go up and get the kids. I didn't. They wanted to stay at my dad's. Daycare mom texted last night and asked if I was open today. I said yes. She texted back later and said that her DH was home tomorrow (today), and that he wanted to keep dcb home.

I just got my pay, and it's two days short. I closed for one day. She is claiming that she shouldn't have to pay because she didn't want to expose her son. Here's my thing:

a) my kids weren't even HERE, and hadn't been in four days at that point
b) I was open, and every other daycare kid came
c) her son had already been here for two days. If he was going to be "exposed", it woulda happened already

Thoughts? It's only $35 dollars, but I want to set precedent. My contract says that if I am open, the parents pay, regardless of attendance.

[BlueRose]

My contract states "if I am open, you have the right to keep your child home, but you still have to pay for the day" just like yours.

I would tell them that it was her decision to keep her child home and still has to pay. If she doesn't pay by XXX date with late fees, then you will be have to reconsider weather or not you will be able to continue care.

Start looking for new clients, just in case she doesn't pay or decides to leave.

$35 this time + $35 every other time she decides not to pay. It will add up.

[Mommy]

Is it in your contract that they have to pay regardless? You can't let them get away with it, they will likely take advantage as much as they can. They signed a contract they need to follow it. Tell them your children were away anyways and the other children attended, that it was theiur decision to keep their child home. Plus you told them ahead of time you were taking thursday off? She could have taken her son thursday to the doctor, not a day you were open.

[Sandbox Sally]

My DH thinks I am being nitpicky, and splitting hairs. No? I want everyone's real consensus.

[Fun&care]

Hmmm tough one. The way I do it is if one of my kids is sick ( I mean SICK, like vomiting, not just a cold...) I tell the parents about it and give them the choice. Now I have lost income because of this, but here's the thing; it doesn't take long for parents to realize that even though they tried to limit their kids exposure, the child was already exposed anyways, and then they end up having to take a whole lot of time off work. So now, when I send out an email about my kids being sick, most parents just bring their kids in anyways because they just assume that they will get sick no matter what. In your case, it's really up to you...but measles sounds like a bit more of a serious disease...if I was a parent I would be concerned....if she really wants the day then give it to her, and next time be more clear with your parents about whether or not they have the choice to pay or not.

[Sandbox Sally]

You read the part about my son not being here, right? He's not here, and hasn't been since Saturday. If he had been here, and I thought that he had a communicable disease, I would have closed for the whole week.

Not trying to strongarm you into changing your mind, just making sure you read the part where my son is four hours away. I want honest opinions, because I really don't know what to say to her next.

[cfred]

Yeah, Alphaghetti....your boy wasn't there. She should pay it, period. If he's not there breathing all over everyone, there's not much concern for being exposed to the virus. Aside from that, the most contagious time is BEFORE symptoms appear, so her child was already exposed. Nothing to be done about that.

My vote - she pays for the day.

[Sandbox Sally]

LOL I asked this same question on another non daycare board that I frequent, and one of the women said this:


Well let's spin this and pretend you run a daycare center and the kid with measles was another student who was not your child.

My daycare center would have notified me promptly of potential exposure as you did. Child would have been excluded from care, as yours was. They would have been open Wednesday, as you were. And if I had chosen to keep my child at home, I would have had to pay them for Wednesday. So I vote yes, she should have to pay.

Yep. That makes sense to me, and alleviates any guilt I might have.:)

[Bookworm]

I agree, she still should pay. Your son was not there and she chose to take him out to get tested. You were open, she pays. I agree, if he was in centre care, she would have to pay, and this is not any different.

[jammiesandtea]

I agree also! Your son was already away, and in a center she would be paying. She owes you that day, and letting it slide is setting a precedent that you do not want to set.

[apples and bananas]

If your contract says "if i'm open you pay" then she should pay.

I can't beleive people actually just short their daycare provider without speaking with them about it first. How sneaky.

[playfelt]

She owes you the money. The exposure happened already if it was contagious last week which it probably wasn't. Other rashes tend to only be a few days not the normal 10 of communicable diseases.

You were not closed as in quarentined so there was no reason for the children not to be there. The thursday you took off yes was a personal day to visit family and yes unless you have some paid days for this that would be an unpaid day but that is only one.

My guess is she is looking at the fact she took Wed off to make sure her kid was ok so had to miss 2 days from work and hubby one. Not your problem.

[Other Mummy]

Alphagetti, you are not splitting hairs...you are correct. Stand your ground. It is not about the $35 dollars which I am sure will not break you or DC family. It is about your dc family running your daycare and making their own rules to which it suits them.

I agree with everyone. Nip it in the Bud NOW. And I would be so insulted and miffed that I would start advertising!

[Fun&care]

LOL I asked this same question on another non daycare board that I frequent, and one of the women said this:



Yep. That makes sense to me, and alleviates any guilt I might have.:)

Lol yes I had read the part about your son not being there. But I like this reply better lol. Makes perfect sense! I guess my mind has been changed for me!:laugh:

[mimi]

Her concern wasn't the measles. She said her husband was home and wanted dcb to stay home with him. Their decision...........t hey pay.

[sunnydays]

Yep, she has to pay. There was very little chance of her child being exposed if your son wasn't even there. I suppose the only chance is if one of the other kids had contracted it and wasn't yet showing symptoms...but really, this can happen anytime! She should also not have taken it upon herself to deduct the money.

[Spixie33]

Which day is she deducting?

I get that she deducted the Thursday where you closed....

But is she deducting Wednesday where she took her son to the clinic or the Friday where the dad is staying home with the DCK??

Either way....she should pay. It was her choice not to bring the child.

I would ask her why she is short and see what her justification is. Then I would remind her about your policy that she has to pay when you are open and that she is paying for the spot - not by attendance.

[Skysue]

She should pay! Don't back down its your business!

[mom-in-alberta]

Hoping that you have already confirmed with her that this day IS owing? Because I agree. She took off the one day you were closed, fine. But for a number of reasons, all listed above, she still needs to pay for the other day.

It's not splitting hairs. What if you have all 5 families choose to do this in one week? There goes 175 bucks! Not 35.
Be calm, firm and if need be, show/email her the part of your contract that states "If I am open, you pay".

[Sandbox Sally]

She paid. :) Thanks, everyone.

[Momof4]

She paid. :) Thanks, everyone.
Woohoo, that's great news! I always use the same line whenever there is a question, "According to our contract agreement........" That would have worked for you in this case.